As a full-time, salaried employee, I can honestly say that there was an amazing work culture at one point, but sadly that time has passed. There were young, hardworking designers thirsty to prove themselves by working on a high profile project with a major client. Then Tekzenit lost that client due to politics and laid off half of their UX team. A lot of the best designers left voluntarily once they realized how underpaid they were with no sign of actual client work in sight.
The remaining designers are waiting for the culture, vision, direction, and management to improve or can’t leave due to visa issues and fear of deportation. The intentions of the management are good, but there is no follow through and promises are left unfulfilled.
For example, workshops are held to have employees define the purpose and vision of the company. Management is struggling with how to run the company so they ask people who have worked there less than a year to define it for them. A rebrand is in order but a name change can’t save a company that doesn’t understand the foundation of their services. Trying to escape the mistakes from your past of failed client relations and mass layoffs with a new name will not fix the current problems.
There is no established process and management often doesn’t understand their own direction. People are given busy work to occupy their time and their hard work will be discarded when the scope changes. People’s talents are ineffectively utilized and projects seem improperly assigned.
In an attempt to retain their favorites, Tekzenit promoted a few individuals to keep them from leaving. Months later, those talented employees have also left for greener pastures. Cash incentives and promotions can’t retain employees because everyone has issues with the managers. Turn over is very high and a new designer quits on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Management desperately gossips about employees to obtain information on who is next to leave. This creates a culture of rumors and paranoia.
Nepotism and favoritism is evident at all levels of the company. If you are the daughter, son, best friend, or significant other of someone who works at Tekzenit, you should surely apply. Nothing says “quality employee" more than blood relations.
